KotOR II: Play. Or Play Not. There is No Trying to Avoid this Review

Star Wars: for some it is merely a series of movies, while for others, it is a passion - even an obsession. With the recent release of the second Star Wars RPG, we sent our two most passionate game reviewers into Lucas's world: Christiaan Allebest and Eric Zapp.

The original Knights of the Old Republic was one of the highest rated games of 2003. Many critics awarded it their Game of the Year award, and nearly everyone agreed that it was the RPG of the Year for 2003. It was developed by the now legendary Bioware, said by many to be single-handedly responsible for saving the dying role-playing genre with its release of the classic Baldur's Gate in 1998. However, the sequel was handed over to a previously unheard-of developer: Obsidian. While unknown by name, Obsidian is a team composed of many seasoned professionals known for well-respected titles such as Fallout and Planescape: Torment.

In spite of having two different studios behind each game, the sequel is almost indistinguishable from the first. This second installment in what is sure to be a continuing series, uses the same engine, called "Odyssey," that was created by Bioware and looks to have received few if any upgrades.

The story begins aboard the crippled ship Ebon Hawk, five years after the events of the original game (and 4,000 years before the events of the first film). As the droid, T3-M4, you must repair the ship and make it to the Peragus. There, the character you created awakes in a restorative Kolto tank. You then begin wandering around the ship in your underwear trying to discover your past, your destiny - and hopefully, some clothes.